Combatting Sexual Violence in the Great Lakes Region

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), which is often used as a weapon of war, remains a major problem across the Great Lakes region.

Almost a third of all cases of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo take place in South Kivu province where in some areas, it is estimated that around 70% of women and girls have been raped. Survivors range in age from three to 75.

Many are left severely injured, deeply traumatised and infected with HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Survivors, and babies born as a result of rape, are often rejected by their families and few women are able to bring their attackers to court.

In Rwanda, a culture of silence surrounds gender-based violence. The Rwandan Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion reported that between 2003 and 2004 over 30% of women had experienced SGBV at the hands of their partners. In Burundi, sexual violence against women is widespread. The stigmatisation of survivors discourages women from taking legal action and courts have been reluctant to punish the culprits. The police consider sexual violence in the home to be a “private matter’’.

With the financial support of the European Commission, SCIAF is launching a three year project to help address the issue of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region. The project aims to reach 22,900 survivors across Burundi, Rwanda and the eastern DRC.

Alongside local partners in each country, we will provide women and girls with the medical and psychological support they need, enable them to access justice and help them to reintegrate into their families and communities. The purpose of our visit is to meet key staff from each of the partners who will be involved in this joint project in order to prepare for its launch in January.